Catching up on Oscars

Hi y'all! Seeing how I love movies, I make sure to watch the Oscars every year and I even try to watch a lot of the nominated movies as well before the big night. How do I know what to watch? I also make sure I know what the nominees are for the Golden Globes as well as the winners. But, there are just too many movies every year, so sometimes I don't watch them untill years later. Some of those movies are:

The Fighter
Honostly, this wouldn't be my kind of movie. Boxing and fighting? But Amy Adams is such a wonderful actress (I first saw her in the Buffy episode 'Family' and she has proven to come a long way) so I wanted to see what kind of magic she could do on the screen now. I also knew that Christian Bale won a giant amount of awards for his role, so I wanted to see for myself what was so great about it. At first I thought the movie was more about Mark Wahlbergs character Micky, who was being held back by his big brother Dicky making a comeback and training him. Turns out, the movie is more about Dicky (Christian Bale) and his struggle. And let me tell you: He is A-MA-ZING! He is so convincing and the only thing you can do while watching him is be in awe of his brilliant acting. The movie goes back and forth between the two, but Bale is truly the star of this movie.

My Week with Marilyn 
The little girl from Dawson's Creek has grown up so much. That's where I know Michelle Williams from. It seems like yesterday, but she has done so much in the meantime (I still need to see Blue Valentine). I will probably write a different blog about her some other time, but for now I'll just focus on My Week with Marilyn, which was nominated for two oscars, including her performance, and two Golden Globes of which she won Best Actress. I think she portrays Monroe very well: She's beautiful, touching, emotional, and a little bit crazy, but most of all vulnerable. Critic Roger Ebert said that Michelle Williams evokes so many Marilyns, "public and private, real and make-believe. We didn't know Monroe, but we believe she must have been something like this." And I couldn't have said it better myself. She was nominated for the Oscar next to Glenn Close (for Albert Nobbs, which I still have to see) and Meryl Streep, who ended up with the award. But Williams' work is definitly Oscar worthy.

The Iron Lady
Like I said, Meryl won the award for this one. But there was another reason why I wanted to see this movie. I just happened to have forgotten it by the time I went to the movies. That's why I was pleasantly surprised by Anthony Head and I remembered him talking about his work on this film during HalloWhedon 3, as well as working with Meryl Streep. A lot of this story (Thatcher becoming Prime Minister) was before my time, so I didn't know half of what was going on. It's a wonderful picture and shows you what went on behind the scenes of 'the iron lady Margareth Thatcher'. Personally I think Streep deserved the Oscar, even if part of me just wanted her to get it after so many nominations and just two wins in the previous years. She's very strong as a prime minister, but also very delicate in her later life after she's lost her husband and suffers from dementia. And to be able to show both sides of the Iron Lady in this movie is truly beautiful.

The King's Speech 
This is one movie that I should have seen the minute it was shown in theatres. Colin Firth is mind blowingly good as the stuttering king and it's a relief to see Helena Bonham-Carter in a role such as this. Geoffrey Rush is just as great as he always is. The story is interesting and captivating. The sets are wonderful and the costumes and music makes it all that well rounded. Everything is perfect in this movie. I don't believe there's one word you could say about this movie that isn't positive. No wonder it won Best Picture, Directing, Leading Role and Screenplay. All I can say is, if you haven't seen it yet: Go watch! You don't know what your are missing. Simply seeing the trailer again is filling me with love for this movie. It's just that good.

Classics
Let's also take a look at some of the earlier wins (Oscars for Best Picture) from the previous years that I've seen. Like Gone With the Wind which is an epic story. Or Casablanca which still lives on in it's strong dialogues/quotes. I even grew up with Ben-Hur and it amazes me that so few people I've met over the years have seen this rock of a movie. I mean, talk about EPIC! Luckily a lot more people have seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which was recently re-released. Just like the Titanic for that matter, which still holds the record I believe with 14 nominations and 11 wins. A little bit of attention went to The Silence of the Lambs this year as Jodie Foster won the Cecil B. DeMille Award this year. While movie titles like Ghandi, Schindler's List, Forrest Gump and Gladiator may all be well known by now, 'smaller' titles like Kramer vs. Kramer, Out of Africa, Amadeus and Shakespeare in Love are hardly known to all. But each of these ones is a treat to watch.

Last year
The past couple of years The Hurt Locker won best picture, but I cannot tell you how much I loved it that last year The Artist won! It's a celebration of movie history, going back to silent cinema and everything that was so magical about movies when they first came on the scene. Another big winner was Hugo, which basically does the same thing. I mean: Georges Meliès!!!! It actually takes place in the beginning of movies and I love, love, love how Scorscese has managed to combine the first movie technology with 3D. It's such a wonderful movie. 

'Smaller' awards went to the foreign film A Separation, which I can recommend to anyone! Just like Midnight in Paris from Woody Allen (best original screenplay), which is very nostalgic but also incredibly beautiful. It's kinda like dream come true in a way. I don't watch that many documentaries, but I'm glad I finally watched Pina past december. And now that I've seen it, I think it should have won. But hey... that's just me ;-). Oh, and who didn't grow up with The Sound of Music? I'm so thrilled that Christopher Plummer finally won an Oscar. Beginners is a very funny and well written movie, that I was really rooting for it and Plummer to win. Other winners were The Help (Octivia Spencer), who had such a wonderful speech, The Muppets (for best song) - you gotta love Jason Segal and The Descendents. I've seen all three of them. The Descendents is quite dramatic, but also kinda funny and nice. While The Help was actually just one of those movies in a long line of those movies. A good movie nonetheless, but the funniest thing was actually in the trailer (and I don't like it when that happends). Then there's The Muppets, which was awesome! Jason Segal really did a nice job, so no wonder there will be a sequel.

Watch a wonderful Dutch vid here

This years odds (and hopes)
Of course now that Oscar season is full on happening again, my list of movies to watch is growing fast. Some of the movies I still want to see are Les Miserables, The Silver Linings Playbook, Anna Karenina, The Master, Amour, Lincoln, Hitchcock, Wreck-It Ralph, A Royal Affair, Moonrise Kingdom... And that's only the Oscar nominations :P. So there's plenty to see in 2013. This year, I think Les Miserables has a very big chance of winning. Looking back at the list with movies that won Best Picture, you can find several musicals. In previous years it was West Side Story, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Oliver! and Chicago. Les Miserables has already won the Golden Globe for Best Picture in the musical or comedy category and I'm hoping it will be the same at the Oscars. Even though I haven't seen it yet, I believe Anne Hathaways performance will be heart breaking. Seeing how Tom Hooper won two years ago with The King's Speech, it wouln't be a far fetch. He has proven to be able to make Oscar winning movies and with a story like this and a truck load of amazing actors, this movie has got to win some of the Oscars. 

Argo won the Golden Globes for director and movie and I believe it will win something at the Acadamy Awards, even though this movie hasn't been nominated in the same categories. Another big movie is Life of Pi, which is a wonderful story, filled with amazing Visual Effects. I think it has a shot at best adapted screenplay as well. I won't discuss every category, because this blog is already longer than I had planned. But I'll end it with a final nominee, which is The Avengers for Visual Effects, the movie by Joss Whedon. Joss is a genius and I just really think his movie deserves to win an Oscar as well. 

Christmas movies - Classics

It's no secret that I LOVE Christmas. I can't really put into words why, because it's kind of everything: The music, the lights, the beautiful decorations everywhere, the delicious sweets, the family time, the snow (when it falls) and of course the movies! To quote Lorelai from Gilmore Girls "It's the best time of the year!". It truly is. And because I love movies, especially the Christmas ones, I decided to fill the rest of my December blogs with some movies I would recommend to watch during the Holidays. The first blog: Classics!

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
This is probably the Christmas movie of all time. George Bailey (James Stewart) has a lot of problems and it's so bad, that he wants to end his life. He dreamed of getting out of the dull town he grew up in, but something always got in the way and when financial problems are added to it, he decides to jump of a bridge into the river. God has sent Angel Clarence to help George and rescues him, but George gets angry at him and wishes he was never born... Wish granted! George walks through the town he was never born in and sees how everthing is different. For his parents, his wife (Donna Reed) and the town - it's the difference that he made. And it all happends right before Christmas.

Why watch it? It's a Wonderful Life is a feel good movie that shows you life isn't as bad as you think it is. It tells you to look at the little things in life and how those things matter more. It's the ultimate Christmas movie, in the way that makes you think about compassion, friends and love. Watch this and you won't be dissapointed!

White Christmas (1954)
Everybody knows the song, but do they know the movie? White Christmas starts with Christmas 1944 during World War Two where Captain Wallace (Bing Crosby) - who is a famous singer/entertainer - and soldier Davis (Danny Kaye) entertain the American troops with songs and sketches. After Davis saves Wallace while they were under attack, Wallace is sort of manipulated into coming together and becoming one of the most famous acts in showbizz history. While in Florida, they decide to go to two sisters of an old army buddy, the Haynes sisters, and they fall for their charmes. Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera - Ellen) have some problems, so Davis helps them by giving them their train tickets. Tickets Davis and Wallace were using to go away for the holidays. So Wallace and Davis buy extra tickets and they end up going to Vermont together (all four of them) to have a wonderful Christmas. Unfortunatly there isn't any snow, so the local in - run by Wallace and Davis' former Colonel - is about to close. That's why Davis and Wallace decide to do their entire show there, to drum up some people for the inn. But will it work in time to save the inn?

Why watch it? There's the song 'White Christmas' for one. Then there's Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, hellooo! It's so sunny all the time, that it doens't really feel like a Christmas movie, but it's about Christmas and the Christmas spirit (a lot of Christmas movies are about financial issues, apparently). White Christmas is a classic musical, filled with songs, big sets and beautiful dance numbers. Perfect for the holidays!

Meet Me in St Louis (1944)
The movie starts with a household singing 'Meet Me in St Louis', because the World's Fair will be in St Louis in 1904 - which is where they live. When the movie starts it's 1903 and they have a year to prepare and look forward to this very big event. But father Smith soon breaks the hearts of his wife and four daughters by saying that he has been promoted to be a director of the company.... in New York. So they will have to move in January and miss the Fair. The ladies don't want to leave their lives and friends and possible boyfriends. This movie has an interesting way of depicting one year in the lives of the family Smith, with celebrations such as house parties, falling in love, All Hallow's Eve and of course Christmas.

Why watch it? I love this movie! And it's not just because Judy Garland stars in it. There are so many nice songs in there (The Trolley Song, The Boy Next Door and Skip to My Loo) and it's a well rounded story. All the family members have something going on, which doesn't get dull one minute. You get a look in the lives of a family and it feels very natural. Even the songs! You have to wait a bit for the Christmas part though, because it's at the end, but I love watching this movie pretty much every year just for this song (in it's original version): <3 

A Christmas Carol
I think this needs no explanation or summery... There's a reason why it's a classic. Everybody should know Charles Dickens' story about Scrooge and the night he was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future. There have been many, many, many movie adaptations from the book, so take your pick. In a later blog I will name two very nice adaptations for kids, that I really like.

The Nutcracker 
Whether you see it as a ballet performance, an animation film, a movie with actors or any other way, it doesn't matter. This story belongs to Christmas. On Christmas Eve family and friends have gathered to decorate the Christmas tree and when they are done the children are sent for. Herr Drosselmeyer - godfather of Clara and Fritz and toymaker - has brought with him several presents, including a wooden nutcracker in the shape of a little man. Clara immediatly likes it, but Fritz breaks it on purpose. Once everybody has gone to bed, Clara returns to get the Nutcracker. Once the clock strikes twelve, a war ensues. The Nutcracker grows to lifesize, leading Gingerbread man soldiers to war against the three headed Mouse King and his mice. But is Clara dreaming or is it all reality?

The story was once written by Hoffmann's as The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. When it was turned into a two act ballet performance, the score was composed by none other than Tchaikovsky (nuff said :P).

Why watch it? I can't believe it, but while writing this, I was trying to find the one I watched as a kid. The animated version and this is the one (watch vid above). It turned out to be a Russian animiation from 1973 (:O). I didn't like the drawing much (and the story isn't entirely the same), but the story and the music of The Nutcracker will always be beautiful. Sometimes there's not much that has to be said about it... It's classical ballet and it's a Christmas classic. 

Sissi (Trilogy 1955/1956/1957)
I almost forgot this one, but it's on a German or Belgium channel every year. It's the romantisized story about Sissi who becomes a Young Empress (at the age of sixteen I believe) in Austria. There's a lot of drama (because of etiquette that she's not familiar with or has problems with), love and laughs - mostly thanks to Sissi and her right hand 'Herr Bockl'. It's all very grand, an epic Christmas story, with wonderful sights (mountains, palaces you name it), and a-ma-zing actors. Best way to tell you, is to show you. Unfortunately I couldn't find a trailer with subs, so I hope it's understandable:

Why watch it? It's three long movies, but the story is beautiful. It's a story about love and doing what's right for the country. Having to put yourself and your needs in second place. Romy Schneider is at her best, her mother Magda Schneider and the handsome Karlheinz Böhm are in it as well. The movies have beautiful sets, costumes, music and it's very funny as well. Let's not forget some great lines, like "Eine Kaiserin gehört zum Kaiser!" or
Sissi: "Wir bekommen ein Kind!"
Fransz: "Ist das War? Sissi, ist das werklich war?!"
Sissi: "Ja, ja!"
Wonderful... For some reason, I always remember those lines. LOL... Just watch it and you'll see ;-).

The Little Princess (1939)
I grew up with this movie, that stars Shirley Temple. It's a beautiful story about a little girl - Sara - (Shirley Temple) who's mother has died and who's father (Ian Hunter) is in a captain in the military. Because he has to fight in the war (Africa), he leaves her in an exclusive seminary for girls to be looked after. On her birthday there's a big celebration, but it ends abruptly when the principal gets a note saying that the captain has died. Because Sara has no place to go and no money, she has the work for the mean principal. Instead of her big beautiful room, she stays with the other little girl that works there, Becky, in the attic. All the while other stories take place between teachers, the neighbour and the fellow seminary girls. The good hearted Sara can't believe her father is dead, so everyday she goes to the military hospital to go look for her father... Will she find him?

Why watch it? I'm not sure it's an actual Holiday movie, but I do remember watching it during the holidays. The Little Princess is a sweet story about a girl who had everything and loses it all. Instead of dwelling on how bad things have gotten, she remains a daughter full of hope that she'll find her father. Shirley Temple was a kid star back then and she's adorable in every movie she's in. Other than that, this movie has a back story for everyone. Truly a classic. You can find it full on YouTube.

The Stowaway (1936) and other oldies
The Stowaway is not really a Christmas movie either, it's just old and has Shirley Temple in it as well. I do believe that it ends with Christmas though. For some reason I just think that oldies like these are perfect for watching during the Holidays. If you like watching oldies/classics like this, I also think many Judy Garland movies are appropriate. Like The Wizard of Oz, For Me and My Gal, Easter Parade and A Star is Born. Must be something with musicals, haha.

Why watch it? The Stowaway for Shirley Temple again, as well as the songs. It's a feel good movie with cuteness, comedy and romance. Need I say more? As far as the Judy Garland movies go: Who wouldn't want to watch a good old musical with Garland? They are all filled with beautiful songs and other great names like Fred Astaire. That's all you need to know, really ;-).

Well, that's the classics for my first Christmas movies list. Hope you get some good ideas from it and if not, check out my next blog for some more ideas!